400 turn out to picket Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church

[proud2BlibKansan]

It looks like the shoe is on the other foot for Pastor Fred Phelps and his Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church. Nearly 400 protesters gathered in Topeka to picket Phelps' church and its homophobic beliefs. FOX 4's Bob Stepanich attended the rally, and reports on the mood of the anti-hate march.

video: http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6174559&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1

[bluestateguy]

1. President Clinton or Obama needs to set up a COINTELPRO type outfit to go after groups like this

Westboro, right wing "citizen militias", anti-abortion whackadoos, fundamentalist megachurches, radio talk show hosts, etc.

Since the last COINTELPRO only targeted the left, payback only seems fair, and now thanks to some of the new laws passed by Bush and his (and it was his)Republican Congress), this is now a lot easier to do.

[terrell9584]

2. that's not what America is supposed to be about

Just because Bush did it doesn't mean that we should do it when we have power. This is one of the reasons that he will be remembered as the worst President since Nixon. Why in God's name would we do what he did?

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Good idea

The city of Topeka appears to have no idea what to do about Phelps.

[patrice]

4. No!

They win when we become them.

[leftofcool]

6. You have got to be kidding me!

Sure let's take the same Nazi tactics as the Repukes. No way!

[patrice]

8. How about . . . ?

A private organization that does the same thing, something similar to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington http://citizensforethics.org/ . It would publish its standards and do research based on those standards, then publish that research and foster forums, online and otherwise, on its findings. It could issue a "goodhousekeeping" seal of approval to groups that it researches. You could fund it with grants and by subscription - NOT to the groups it investigates - but to people and other organizations who are interested in, for their own reasons, said groups.

[MotorCityMan]

5. Glad to see this; there is a recent documentary, "Fall From Grace"

about Phelps and his "church". He is a scary charactor. Like a lot of rabid holy rollers, he is so sure he is correct in his beliefs and that anyone who disagrees is destined for hell.

[Vidar]

7. Yeehaw! Though I'd still rather see the bikers take care of him & his flock.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. The bikers have not been a friend to the peace movement

I have a hard time cheering them on, even when they go after Phelps.